The Summit FM, Author at The Summit FM

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

A bunch of freaks! A bunch of freaks I tell ya! The Flaming Lips, perhaps the most famous rock and roll exports from Oklahoma City, began life back in 1983 with a modest arrival.

Combining garage rock aesthetics, a love for the Cramps, and a thirst quenched by lysergic laced Oklahoma well water, Flaming Lips entered the rock and roll world with a self-titled EP. Released on the band's own label, Lovely Sort Of Death, their mélange of styles caught the ears of college radio dj's and independent record stores, as word spread about these misfits from Oklahoma.

Harbored in their own world, away from the scene tripping of New York, LA or even Athens, GA, the Flaming Lips created their own off kilter sonic world and in short order indie rock labels started calling. Restless, a subsidiary of Enigma (itself a subsidiary of Capitol) won out and released the band's first full length LP, 'Here It Is,' in 1986. By this point, the more standard 'garage' influeneces were being replaced, or updated, by a nod to contemporary soldiers like Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers and Frightwig, combining noise, melody and a darker sense of reality within their psychedelic inspirations.

More albums followed, some mining a more traditional style ('One Million Billionth of a Millisecond on a Sunday Morning' is a dead ringer for vintage Pink Floyd) while others like 'Drug Machine In Heaven' preceded the whole 'grunge' formula with its sludgy chaos.

In a post –‘Nevermind’ world, the major labels were falling over themselves trying to sign the next Nirvana. Looking under ever rock and in every corner of the underground to find that one band. In 1991, Warner Brothers signed the Lips to what has turned out to be a long-lasting contract. That first album for WB, 'Hit To Death In The Future Head,' was released in 1992 to little fanfare. The diehard Lips fans stayed true, but others were slow to arrive to the party.

Things would change with the 1993 release of their second major label offering, 'Transmissions from the Satellite Heart.' Their sixth album overall found the Flaming Lips seeking adventure in slightly more melodic and pop inspired songs, while retaining their ongoing psychedelic agenda.

Kicking into gear with the opening track, 'Turn It On,' it's obvious the band were up for the challenge. The raw guitar-based pop song, with more than a hint of Neil Young-ish vocals, was catchy as hell, especially by F. Lips standards. The song retained the adicic gloss the band strived for but with an honest to goodness pop song at the core. While the noisier side of the band quickly appeared by the second track, and a more psychedelic aspect in bloom on 'My Pregnant Head,' it was the album's fourth track that shoved the band onto MTV's playlist and into mainstream ears.

'She Don't Use Jelly' was and remains, a perfect example of what happened in the 1990s music world. Once the doors were blown off the hinges by Nirvana, everything was fair game; the world was up for grabs. 'She Don't Use Jelly' was just catchy enough to represent itself as a pop song, while at the same time weird enough to stand in line on the 'alternative' side of the room. It is a weird record, charmingly so. Who knows what Wayne Coyne is going on about here and it doesn't really matter. It's a sonic ride all its own, complete with off kilter video, just right for the 120 Minutes crowd and even lampooned by arbiters of taste, Beavis and Butthead.

All this 'alternative' fueled attention pushed the single into the Billboard Top100, making it all the way up to #55. It stands as their only charting single for the band. It's hip factor even allowed the band to appear on the ever so popular 'Beverly Hills 90210 playing the song for those crazy spoiled rich kids.

Though the band has progressed and evolved into their own unique creation over the decades, miles away from where they started, 'She Don't Use Jelly' remains a fan favorite and in many ways, a signature song for those wacky Oklahomans.

Wellness can be achieved by virtue of completing a journey and maintain a lifestyle. But it can also be magnified by our ability to appreciate and be thankful for the things that we already have! Summit Wellness continues to hum the melody of connection between feeling good and feeling grateful!

Gratitude is a monthly feature contributed by Matt Anthony, Digital Media Producer and on-air host for the Summit FM. Matt reflects on instances where we might uncover more ways to appreciate what’s in front of us, and how those instances might contribute to our overall health and well-being.

"Better Late Than Never"
By Matt Anthony - Summit FM Contributor

Do you like music?
Does it give you a lift?
Then look in the closet
For your Christmas gift!

When I was 10 years old, I descended the steps of our old colonial home in Canton, Ohio with the rest of my siblings. Christmas morning had arrived, and the energy-level, as you would expect, was palpable.

We gathered around the tree that morning, as we did every Christmas morning. Even though my father, a high school teacher, and my mother, a housewife, struggled financially at every turn to try to provide for a family of 9, we always had a ‘Christmas morning.' Decades later, when I think of that particular morning, I immediately focus on how grateful I am for my parents’ ability to make this a magical time for us.

This morning, though, seemed different. My mother pointed out various small stacks of gifts for all my brothers and sisters, but there didn’t seem to be any indication that there might be a gift for me. Suddenly, she thrust a small box in my direction, and said, ‘This is for you!”

Falling out from inside that box was the above poetic verse. I read it, and then I jogged over to the closet on the other side of the living room. And in that closet was an acoustic guitar!

Now, you’re probably thinking that this is the part of the tale where I tell you that, at the age of 10, I began my journey towards guitar-prodigy. You’re probably anticipating an excerpt where I regale you with the stories of how I spent hours in the attic working the fretboard, trying to make my fingers perform the same tasks as Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, and Brian May. And you more than likely expect me to end this essay by crediting my mother as the sole influence in pushing me towards a career in music.

But that wasn’t the case. Learning the guitar was hard work. And my effort and interest-level resided far more in the world of sports than it did inside the music-universe. While I was learning how to execute a behind-the-back pass in basketball or stoically following my father’s instruction on the proper way to throw out a runner who attempted to swipe second base, that beautiful instrument gathered dust in that closet, rarely picked up again after that cold, snowy Christmas morning.

While it remains one of the true regrets of my life, I am, in a strange way, grateful for the missed opportunity. My failure to take advantage of that opportunity has taught me much about ‘practice’ and dedication. I’ve thought often of this poem that my mother crafted so beautifully, and I’ve used it to help me work more diligently in other areas of interest where I could excel.

Back in the late 80’s, while I was teaching at a business college, I had a student who was a musician. And during an after-class chat, I shared this story with him, expressing the disappointment in myself having not taken advantage of that opportunity that my mother had presented me. And he said, “Why be disappointed? Start playing now.” And later that month, he located a used Sigma acoustic guitar for me. It’s the guitar that I own to this day.

That guitar doesn’t sit in a closet. It also doesn’t get played nearly as much as it should. But even yesterday, when I picked it up to work my way through a chord that I was trying to learn, I thought, again, about my mother’s poem. I’m grateful for it. I’m grateful that she tried to steer me towards something that really is a passion of mine: music. I’m grateful that I was able to at least remember to use her verse to remind me about the importance of 'practice,' and to remind myself that effort is required to be good at anything.

And I’m grateful for Kurt, that student, many years ago, who reminded me that it’s never too late to start, that it’s never too late to let the scars of regret heal, and that it’s never too late to ‘live in the now.’

During the pandemic of 2020, The Summit began a new show called "Cruisin' The Decades - 100 Years of Music" at 5:00 pm each Friday afternoon. The concept is to play one song per decade, from 1920's to the 2020's, in one hour - across all styles and genres.

The program has been very well received and due to its uniqueness, it led to a self-syndication effort -- from Producer/Host Brad Savage -- to many other radio stations. This show is not syndicated by a company that does such things; we're doing it ourselves using The Summit's facilities and concept. It's a fantastic "global outreach" for The Summit as a station or music brand.

Based on word-of-mouth networking and radio industry contacts, "Cruisin' The Decades (Global Edition)" is now aired on 36 radio stations each week across the USA, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. We produce a special, "second version" of the show here at the station each week. That "global" version is also aired on The Summit on Saturday night at midnight and again on Sundays at 11:00 pm. Find out more about "Cruisin' The Decades" here on the new website: cruisinthedecades.com

Since the launch of this show, it's caused The Summit's Savage to do a serious "deep dive" into tons of musics from all genres and eras. In particular: blues, jazz, rockabilly, roots, standards, swing, and R&B genres have really piqued his interest.

Savage says, "I've been spending more time than ever studying the roots of modern music, and it is really incredible to discover songs from 75+ years ago that are just astounding. The sounds of history come to life in these classic recordings."

Here are 5 must-hear songs that Savage has discovered thanks to Cruisin' The Decades:

American Quartet "On The 5:15" (1915)
The American Quartet is among the top early singing groups, and were wildly popular in the 1910's and 1920's. This song is about missing the train after work!

Tony Martin & Fran Warren "I Said My Pajamas & Put On My Prayers" (1950)
A silly wordplay duet about the fog of love and romance! It's so relatable - even nearly 75 years later!

Ben Bernie & All The Lads "So This Is Susie" (1931)
Just listen to the classic vocal and the recording, for both the enjoyment of the song and the unique production values. If any one song personifies the early 1930's, I believe this is it!

Mildred Bailey "Georgia On My Mind" (1931)
Some of these "standards" go back 100 years and have been sung by dozens of artists. This song is best-known for its famous version by Ray Charles recorded in 1960. But it was written by Hoagy Carmichael and released in 1930. This early version by Mildred Bailey has become a favorite.

Fluffy Hunter & Jesse Powell's Orchestra "The Walkin' Blues" (1952)
Clearly, Rock & Roll existed BEFORE Elvis Presley. It was R&B music performed by Black artists. Listen to the double-entendre and infectious sound of this anthem. No wonder there was so much fear from the establishment. There is so much history of great music to discover and that's what this show is all about!

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

Perhaps the Mod-est of all the Mod bands of the era, the Small Faces embodied the true essence of not only the Mod aesthetic, but of rock and roll in general! Led by the formidable force of nature known as Steve Marriott, Small Faces had the energy, the attitude, the style, and the chops to take on the world. With all members -- shall we say -- less than tall, their stature wasn't the slightest hinderance to a fully rocking existence.

Super-charged rhythm section, slashing guitars, driving Hammond organ and a vocalist to rival them all, Small Faces couldn't help but make an impression on the London club scene. Following a batch of high grade singles throughout 1965 and 66, they released their debut in the spring of 1966. Full of big beat bashers and proto hard rock, people took notice with four of their first five singles landing in the UK Top 10. By the release of album number two in the first half of 1967, the band was changing course with the times: still rocking, but merging with other sounds and styles.

As the psychedelic era became surrounded with lofty ambitions, the Small Faces tried their hand at a more conceptual work. Mind you, this was not a 'concept' album, but the way it was put together, and the way the songs flowed, was certainly not an afterthought.

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake was released in May of 1968, originally in a round, die-cut sleeve unlike anything released to that point. As for the music inside the fancy sleeve, it was a culmination of the Small Faces past and present. Hard rocking soul stompers sat beside acoustic whimsy, and pop perfection with a slight psychedelic glow. They were smart enough to know a full blown cosmic trip was just not them but they were still able to use some of the readily found colors of the era to make it all shine.

"Lazy Sunday" was a #2 UK hit while tracks like "Afterglow" and "Song Of A Baker" are as powerful rockers as anyone was delivering at the time. Side two was where the concept sat, with narration between tracks provided by British comic Stanley Unwin. The close-knit combo of Marriott on guitar and vocals, Ronnie Lane on bass, Ian McLagan on keyboards and Kenney Jones on drums unfortunately didn't survive long after the album's release. Marriott was off to form Humble Pie while the others would recruit Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood to replace Marriott and become simply the Faces. But, that's another story for another time. This is all about the classic 1968 offering from the Small Faces, and if you are not familiar with the Small Faces, you really should be! Thanks for listening!

Tune into The Summit FM all day Thursday, June 15 to hear tracks from Ogden's Nut Gone Flake as our Summit Album Essential of the week!

By Michelle Charles - Summit FM Development Director

Meet John Vince! John is an incredibly dedicated member and volunteer. Currently living in Reynoldsburg (near Columbus), John attends many of our Studio C sessions as a member of the Guitar Club and loves to volunteer for the Summit FM – whether it’s in the office or at an event. John is in the process of moving to Akron. He works for Amazon as an IT support tech. In his spare time, John enjoys camping, music festivals, and concerts.

I asked John a few questions so that others can get to know him too.

What was your first live concert? My first live concert (as a teenager) was Rush and .38 Special at the old Mershon Auditorium in Columbus.

What was an artist you discovered on the Summit FM? Oh my goodness! I discovered a LOT of artists on the Summit. The first band that comes to mind is Detention. The song from that really caught my attention was “Devil Berries.”Another discovery that quickly became a favorite is Indre.

What is your favorite band of all time? If I had to choose (only) one favorite band of all time, it would have to be REM.

What is your favorite movie? My favorite movie would be Airplane (and DON’T call me Shirley!)

What are you reading right now? I don’t really read a whole lot of books. Most of my reading involves online articles.

Thank you, John -- for being a member of our Guitar Club and for all that you do for The Summit FM!

Want to join John as a member of the Guitar Club? Click here for more information!

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

It was a different world way back in the stoned age, circa 1968! There was a revolution happening on many fronts -- cultural, political, musical, fashion, psychological, pharmaceutical, you name it! Rock and Roll was the language of the era and there was no time to mince words. Bands came, bands made their mark, then left. Well, not the Rolling Stones, but that's another kettle of fish.

Cream was, for many, the epitome of a 'super group.' Their collective resume and pedigree was beyond reproach, their timing on the music scene was impeccable and their ability to take a cue was spot on. Formed in 1966, Jack Bruce - bass, Ginger Baker - drums, and Eric Clapton - guitar, was a power trio of the highest order, melding blues, pop, and rock and roll into one giant ball of power. Bruce and Baker had been the dynamic rhythm section for the Graham Bond Organization, a first class beat/jazz combo on the British club circuit during the beat group era. Meanwhile Clapton had severed time with two legendary groups, the Yardbirds and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers.

The three tossed their lots in together forming the 'cream' of British musicians as one entity. By 1966 the music was changing, a wide variety of sounds and styles were coming to the fore including the idea of 'guitar hero' and, along with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the stripped down three piece approach was a perfect setting to show off the individual musicianship.

Fresh Cream was released at the end of 1966 to strong reviews and sales, containing such classics as "N.S.U.," "I Feel Free" and "I'm So Glad," the band mixed a strong pop sense with first rate chops, signaling a new era was dawning.

In less than a year their second album, the masterpiece Disraeli Gears, was released with signature classics like "Sunshine Of Your Love," "Tales Of Brave Ulysses," and "Strange Brew." The album was a huge hit, and cemented their reputation, hitting Top 10 around the world.

A mere 6 months later, the 2-LP set Wheels Of Fire was unleashed with more hits, "White Room" and "Born Under A Bad Sign" as well as one album's worth of live material showing off the band's more improvisational style in concert. Just prior to the release of Wheels Of Fire, the band announced it was calling it a day. Some recording sessions were wrapped up and, along with more live material, made up album number four, Goodbye, released in early 1969, but, the band had already said goodbye with a summer '68 tour.

A couple more live releases and "best of" albums would follow, but that was it! The entire career, save for a highly successful reunion tour in 2005, was over and done in just under three years. Compare that to the way bands operate now, or, even for the past several years. Hell, it's takes more than three years for a band to release a follow up album, complete a tour or, sometimes, show any signs of life!

Consider this: the entire career of Creedence Clearwater Revival, including seven very successful albums and a long run of singles -- as well as touring and television appearances -- lasted just four years! It is fascinating just how quickly art, music, film, etc. moved back then, while today, technology is rapid fire while the arts are on a slow train. I'm not judging, just making an observation. Working and creating under limited, often restrictive and demanding scenarios helped created constant forward motion.

All members would carry on in solo careers with varying levels of fame and fortune, with Clapton becoming a household name, but it was that brief period that Cream roamed the earth that everything that came after was built on. That's a pretty amazing building black when you think about it.

Cream was but one example of arriving, establishing, conquering and leaving before the rigor mortis set in. There is something to be said about that, not to mention a lot of great music to listen to.

By Chad Miller - Summit FM Music Director

What's everyone been listening to out there? There's so much new music coming at us, and so little time... However, these five songs that might fly under the radar to most are what I've been diggin' these past few weeks:

Like what you hear? Please email Chad at chad@thesummit.fm and let him know what you think!

PJ Harvey - "A Child's Question, August" The alternative rock legend has forged her own path for three decades, and she now returns with a haunting, almost spooky, prayer-like incantation, along with a music video with hypnotic visuals throughout. Personally, I've become obsessed and fascinated by it ever since hearing it for the first time!

Scott McMicken & the Ever Expanding - "Reconcile" A big favorite of mine as of late from the lead singer of indie rock band Dr. Dog, coming to us with this new project. It's a jangly and catchy singalong that's impossible not to love.

Bully - "All I Do" The new album by the project of Alicia Bognanno, Bully comes roaring back with this new album released in early June and a KILLER lead off song that will rock your face off! Bully is out on tour this summer opening for Pixies and Franz Ferdinand.

Thundercat w/ Tame Impala - "No More Lies" What a tag team here on this one from two of the best in the world of pysch rock! Kevin Parker, who is Tame Impala, brings his signature production skills and backup vocals to join Thundercat, one of the most skilled bass players in the world (and currently opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers on their stadium tour) to this laid back and fun early contender for #1 summer jam. Stay for the end with the snarky debate about telling the truth or lying.

The Antlers - "I Was Not There" In my downtime, I tend to lean more into more chill, relaxing music and no one does that better than The Antlers -- who have recently reemerged with a pair of new singles. This one absolutely stunned when it came out a couple months ago. Listen to this in a quiet moment and let the stark, still, and spare beauty of it wash over you. I love this band so much...

By Dave Swanson - Summit FM Contributor

The Cure kept raising the stakes and honing their craft with each new album. The kinetic spark of their classic debut Boys Don't Cry gave way to lush and darker terrain with albums like Faith, Seventeen Seconds, and Pornography. In 1982, however, Robert Smith and company began indulging their pop craft, releasing a batch of grade-A singles like "Let's Go To Bed," "The Walk," "Love Cats," and "Caterpillar." These irresistible pop gems would push the band closer to the mainstream without any loss of identity. Quite the opposite, actually, and by the release of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, the band had a fully realized vision where all shades of the Cure shone as one.

The album is a sprawling, often brooding work of art that, at the same time, manages to cough up pop gold with hits like "Hot Hot Hot," "Why Can't I Be You?" and the classic "Just Like Heaven." At the time, many of the ground breakers of the first half of the decade were reaping awards as 'modern music' (or 'college rock' if you prefer) was becoming a major force. Once more cult-ish bands like Jesus and Mary Chain, the Church, and R.E.M. were all starting to sell lots of records, the Cure were right there with them.

Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me pushed its way into the Billboard Top 40, checking in at No. 35, their highest charting to that point. Meanwhile, the four singles from the album were all major players in MTV rotation and alternative radio, where they can still be found on playlists around the globe, including right here at The Summit FM!

Two years later, the Cure would release what many would call their crowning achievement, Disintegration, which would make them the fully realized pop stars they were always destined to be. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me was certainly a watershed moment in their illustrious career and an essential album that still holds a special place in the hearts of many a Cure fan!

Tune into The Summit FM all day Thursday, June 8 to hear tracks from Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me as our Summit Album Essential of the week!

By Laura Smiley - Summit FM Sales Director

For the month of June, our Summit FM Underwriter Spotlight shines down on the Akron Art Museum, featuring Keith Haring, Against All Odds, on display now through September 24th.

Keith Haring’s career in art began with chalk graffiti in New York City subway stations and, during the 1980s, exploded into paintings, drawings, large-scale murals, fashion, and pop culture. The artist channeled his newfound popularity and his signature style of bold and energetic outlines into expressions of love and positivity. He also used his art to make political statements against environmental destruction, racism, homophobia, and more. Ranging from the artist’s best-known imagery to more personal and adventurous works, Keith Haring: Against All Oddswill survey the height of his career, from the early 1980s until his death in 1990 at the age of thirty-one. The show will also include artwork by some of Haring’s friends and artistic peers, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and David Wojnarowicz.

For more information on this exhibit, or the Akron Art Museum, visit akronartmuseum.org.

"Light on the Edge of Darkness"
By Matt Anthony - Summit FM Contributor

My 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass needed a new exhaust-system. It was loud, and its rumbling cadence was beginning to border on ‘obnoxious’. (not to mention the noxious fumes that were beginning to spill into the vehicle’s interior!) I didn’t have the money to replace it. The money earned bagging groceries at a local supermarket didn’t allow for an easy replacement.

I had my priorities. And one of those was being able to allocate the necessary funds for an 8-track cartridge set-up that included Jensen Coaxial Speakers. The power of those classic beauties provided ample opportunity for me to lift my music above the nerve-wracking din of a faulty muffler.

Well everybody's got a secret, son
Something that they just can't face
Some folks spend their whole lives trying to keep it
They carry it with them every step that they take

Being a 19-year-old wasn’t easy. High school had been uneventful. The future seemed hazy. And I knew that I didn’t want to stock shelves in a grocery store for the rest of my life. It seemed like the only person who understood me, the only person who spoke to me in a way that defined where I was in the scheme of things, was this guy from the Jersey shore, who has been christened as the next ‘Bob Dylan’.

Oh, nothing is forgotten or forgiven
When it's your last time around, huh
Well I got stuff running 'round my head
That I just can't live down

Darkness on the Edge of Town was stark. It was seemingly simple in its construct, but its underlying tone was menacing and uncertain. It was brooding. It was relentless in its honesty. And it posed more questions than it answered. I would take the 8-Track out of the player and stare at the album-cover. Bruce Springsteen’s gaze looked a lot like mine. (and the wallpaper in the background looked exactly like the one we had in our entry-way!) He seemed a bit haunted. Unsure. There was some anger and resentment that hovered under the surface, and an explosion seemed likely to happen if just the right circumstances presented themselves.

Why did this album resonate so much with me?

And why am I telling you that I’m grateful for it?

Here at The Summit FM, we often talk about the ‘power of music’. When I think about music, I can’t help but ponder the effect it had on me during these formative years. I think back on the hours that I would spend in my attic with headphones plastered to the sides of my head, watching the disc spin round and round and allowing the verbal imagery of Pete Townshend, the mystical nuances of Neil Young, or the bruising, crunchy, distorted guitar-work of Steve Jones and the Sex Pistols to take me places where I’d never been. To show me a world that was slightly out-of-order, and to give me permission to feel OK about acknowledging the fact that there were people out there who felt just like I felt.

Now I'm wandering, a loser down the tracks
An' I'm lyin', but babe I can't go back
'Cause in the darkness I hear somebody call my name
And when you realize how they tricked you this time
And it's all lies but I'm strung out on the wire, in these
Streets of fire

But if I could meet one of these luminaries and mutter a ‘thank you’ for speaking to me on a level that, at the time, nobody else could...If I could somehow stand in front of this person and tell him how often I’d use his words to help me to understand myself…if I could reach out and shake his hand and explain to him how this 10-song, 42:55 masterpiece became a trusted ally during a time that seemed so desperate and uncertain…it would be Bruce Springsteen. And in my own careful but uncertain style, I would attempt to explain to him how his contribution to ‘the power of music’ was heard and assimilated, time and time again, by a young kid in Canton, Ohio.

In this section of SUMMIT NOW, I’m hoping to share bits and pieces about the various things for which I’m grateful. They may come off vague and miniscule. Or, they may be seemingly life-altering, in the case of that pudgy, error-prone fella mentioned above. (who did, eventually, replace that egregiously loud exhaust-system!) But my hope is that these reflections of ‘gratitude’ somehow revolve around the power of music. After all, it’s why we are all members of The Summit FM, right?

Today, I’m grateful for Darkness on the Edge of Town, which was released 45 years ago today.